Once known as "Custer' s Last Stand," the battle of Little Bighorn was the last triumph of the Plains Indians over Federal troops. Yet, the story of the battle is not simply one of Native Americans triumphing over Federal forces. Rather it is a gripping and poignant story of how the winners-- the Native Americans in this case-- became the ultimate losers of everything they held dear as a result of an overwhelming and unanticipated victory that served only to accelerate the use of military force against them. "Little Bighorn" presents a balanced view of the battle and its context in a clear, informative and engaging way. It does this not only by covering the battle' s background, course and aftermath, but also by setting the scene, describing the way of life of the Lakota and Cheyenne Indians, the movement of white settlers West, and how their actions and attitudes quickly began to erode the Indian way of life. The battle of Little Bighorn continues to fascinate people today, both because the battlefield itself continues to yield secrets and because it stands as a rare Native American victory in their struggle to preserve their way of life. Numerous illustrations, maps and relevant quotations enrich the substantial text of" Little Bighorn," The book ends with a section on the battlefield today, which includes information on recent archaeological finds, along with a timeline, a glossary, and lists of books to read and places to visit.